Portable telephone set



June 24, 1930. w. J. STANTON ET'AL 1,766,960

PORTABLE TELEPHONE sET- Filed Sept. 7. 1928 151 Enslin Patented June 24, 1930 WILLARD J. STANTON AND HENRY A. GOSLING, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '10 AMERICAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, 3-; ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFDELAWABE i i PORTABLE TELEPHONE snr I Application filed September 7, 1928. 1 Serial No. 304, .76.

This invention relates in general in telephone sets but more particularly to portable telephone sets such as are used by railroad trainmen, section crews and others along 5 the right ofwayof a railroad for connection to dispatchers lines or any other line.

A privatetelephone line is usually provided along railroadrlines for communication with headquarters, other stations, or dispatchers. This line is strung on poles which may'also carry cables through which flow currents of high potential. At intervals along this line there is provided means by which a telephone set may be connected to the line for the purpose of communicating with other points desired. This means is usually a pole jack'mounted in a weather proof box on the pole and contains lightning arresters in addition to the line jackfor connecting with the telephone set. Such a pole jack is disclosed in a, copending application. Serial No. 268,470, filed .April9, 1928, W. J. Stanton and this discloses means whereby the operator of a telephone set isiprotected from any accidental potential that may be present on the telphone line when'the set is in use. The present invention relates to a portable train telephone setwhich' may be connected to thistype of pole ack and for the purpose of transmitting messages over the associated line.

The portable telephone set is usually carried on all freight and passenger trains in addition to the section and construction crews erate;

use, where it is subjectyto rough handling and exposed to adverse conditions of weather, and whichwill, be "compact and of light weight.

operatin.

and repair or replacement. V

A feature of the inventiontresides in the; rugged and substantial construction of the accidental and therefore must be'constructed strong enough to stand rough usage and 1n addition be simple enough forany'trammanto op;

adjust-able leather strap 4 'is fastened on further object is to provide a portable set constructed and arranged so that all of its parts are readily accessible for use e e i cooperating an indentation 30 on thef wire: when the were clbsed and the set telephone set and the arrangements of the variouspartsof the apparatus ina minimum amount of space. i

f, Another feature relatesto means whereby all circuit carrying parts are insulated from grounding and from the operator of the set. i v

These and other objects and features .of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, which to gether with the single sheet of drawings constitutes a preferred embodiment of the in-' vention. i l i Referringnowto the drawings Fig; 1 is a perspective view ofthe complete telephone set with the cover opened up andthe hand set exposed and ready'for use Fig. Zi's a perspective view,partly in section, of the inner apparatus casing which fits into" the outer box or casesho'wn in Fig. l. Thecover of this inner casing has been shown partly 5 isa perspective view ofa battery unitwhich v so for talking purposes.

' In Fig. 1" the outer case or box2 together with the cov'er'3 is constructed of laminated wood-throughout and-has an outer covering of thin sheet aluminum, so'tha't with the cover in closed'position the box is practically .immune" from the weather. andrough handling fits in the inner casing and furnishes current and effectually protects the apparatus which 'it-conta'insfl At all the corners and the bot vtom, meta-l reinforcing members are attached V to further strengthen: the box. 7 The cover 3 opens on a piano hinge andjisfastened when closed'by'a. pair of snap trunk toggles. 1 Aneach end of the bozi to provide a means for readily carryingthe set either onthe shoul der or by'fha'nd. A groove 31 on thefbox'2,

cover g serves as ameans for le'adingoutthe V r is in use, so as to protect the apparatus from the weather.

The inner or apparatus case 5, Fig. 2, is made of aluminum alloy cast in one piece with integral reinforcing members 15 extending around all sides and on the bottom of the case to reinforce the same. A cover 6 is hinged on one end of the case 5 and when in closed position is held byithe snap spring 9. The case 5 fits snug inside the outer box 2 and is spaced on all sides and the bottom from the wooden lining of the box by the reinforcing members 15. These members 15 are so placed around the case 5 that when the case is inside the box the members 15 do not touch any metal parts such as rivets and screws which are on the box. The casing 5 is therefore completely insulated from the metal parts of the box 2 so there will be no chance of an accidental ground affecting the apparatus in the case.

The magneto generator 8 is of the usual type and in addition is made as light as possible. It is placed slightly to one side of the center of the casing 5, and insulated and removable therefrom. The handle 28 is screwed onto the generator shaft after the generator is in the case, as seen in Fig. 1. This handle 28 folds in its center whennot in use so as not to extend beyond the width of a metal flange 27 which is attached to the box 2 and protects the handle from injury. A felt washer 42 surrounds the generator shaft at the point where the handle is attached, so as to render the opening weather proof.

The space indicated at 10 in the case 5, is occupied by the set of dry batteries 37, Fig. 5. These batteries 37 are four in number and are of the standard cylindrical flashlight type. They are removably held in place by the studs 38 between insulated plates 39 and 40. These batteries are connected together'in multiple series to provide long life. A suitable pair of terminals are fastened to the top of insulated plate 39 in order to provide connections with theterminal block 32. A post 14 is screwed into the bottom of the casing 5 and engages a hole in the plates 39 and 40 of the battery unit. When the battery unit is in place in the case a thumb nut 13 is screwed onto the post 14 and holds the unit securely in place in the casing 5.

On the opposite side of the casing 5 and as shown exposed by the broken away portion of the casein Fig. 2, are mounted the ter minal block 32, induction coil 33 and the condenser 34. The condenser 34 isheld in place by a metal strap 35 which is fastened to a stepped portion formed out of the easing 5.. The induction coil 33 is fastened at eachend by. screws to another stepped portion of the casing above the condenser 34, while the terminal block 32 is fastened to the top of each end of the insulated spool head of the induction coil 32. All wires within the casing are brought out and connected to the terminal block 32 with spade clips.-

The cover 6 of the casing 5 is fastenedto one end of the casing by a piano hinge and when closed is held by a snap spring 9. The cover has a compartment 7 which fits around and protects the generator 8 when the cover is closed. On top of the cover and on each side and end of the compartment 7 there are formed, reinforcing members 16, 17 and 18 formed integral therewith which add strength and rigidity to the cover. A cut away portion 41 fits over the shaft of the generator 8. On top of the compartment 7 and formed integral therewith are two parallel projections 19 and 20 between which the hand set 22 of Fig. 3 rests, when the case 5 is in the box 2 as clearly seen in Fig. 1. Each end of the hand set 22 when in place hangs down and occupies the space on each side of the compartment 7. The thumb switch 29 on the hand set when in normal position renders the circuit of the telephone open, and when pushed upward is in talking position and downward is in listening position. Fastened to and. insulated from the compartment 7 and in front of the projection 20 there are a pair of binding posts 24. To these posts .24 there is attached a weather proof cord, the other end of which is attached to the plug 23, Fig. 4. This plug 23 serves as the means whereby the telephone set may be connected to the pole jack as described in the hereinbefore mentioned pending application. The position of this plug 23 when not in use is shown in Fig. 1.

Fastened by a pair of screws to the compartment 7 adjacent the projection 19 is a cord reel 21, which is fork shaped on each end. This serves the purpose of providing a means for winding up and securely fastening the excess cord which isattached to the hand set 22 when'it is in the box and not in use. The other end ofthis cord leads through a hole 12 in 'the'cover and fastens to the terminal block 32.

A square piece of sponge rubber 26 Fig. 1, is fastened to the inside cover 3 of the box 2, and when the cover is closed this rubber securely holds the hand set 22 in position between the projections 19 and 20 so it cannot become dislodged during rough handling'of the telephone setp All wires leading from the hand set v22, plug 23, generator 8 and the battery unit have their ends equipped withspade terminal clips soas'tofacilitate. attachment with the terminal block 32. Each piece of apparatus is thereby also independently replaceable or removable, for repair.

; In the operation of this telephone set the user-first opens the cover. of the box 2, takes;

outthe plug 23 and inserts it in the pole jack which connects him with the telephone line.

The handle 28 is then moved out beyond the rim of the flange 27 and operated to turn the generator 8 and signal the distant wanted sta- 7 tion. The hand set 22 is then lifted from its resting place on the compartment 7 and conversation can then proceed by manipulating the thumb switch 29 on the hand set. In case a of adverse weather conditions when the set is to be used, the cover 3 can be closed and the cables for the plug 23 and the hand set 22 let out of the box through the grooves 30 and 81. The internal apparatus is thereby protected from damage.

From the above description it will be seen that a new portable telephone set has been designed, which is rugged and compact, wherein all pieces of apparatus are easily accessible and readily replaceable or repaired and wherein all parts are insulated from each other and the case and box.

While only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that it is capable of any number of variations and modi-' telephonic apparatus mounted in said inner case, a cover on said inner case, and a compartment in said cover for enclosing certain of said telephonic apparatus extending beyond the top of said inner case.

2. In a ortable telephone set, the combination of an outer carrying case and an apparatus case inside said carrying case, a magneto generator mounted in said apparatus case and having a portion extending beyond the top edge thereof, other telephonic apparatus mounted in said apparatus case on either side of said generator, a cover for said apparatus case completely enclosing said telephonic apparatus, and a compartment formed in said cover for enclosing the portion of said generator extending beyond the edge of said apparatus case.

3. In a portable telephone set, the combination of an outer carrying box having a 00V- er together with an inner apparatus case, a magneto generator mounted centrally in said case, a battery unit mounted on one side of said generator, and a condenser, induction coll, and termlnal str1p mounted on the other side of said generator in said case, a cover for said case completely covering said apparatus and having a compartment centrally formed therein for enclosing said generator, and a hand telephone and cord reel mounted on top of said compartment and extending on either side thereof.

4. In a portable telephone set, an outer carrying case havinga cover, an apparatus case inside of said carrying case,-.a cover for saidapparatus case having ;a compartment formed therein, telephonic apparatus mounted inside said apparatus case and on top of,

said compartment on said cover, said carry: ing case, said apparatus case, and their associated covers constructed so as to protect said telephonic apparatus from adverse weather conditions, rough usage and foreign highpotential voltages. V V

V 5. Ina portable telephone set, an outer carrying casehaving a cover, anxapparatus case in, said carrying case containing telephonic apparatus comprising a magneto generator mounted in the center of said case, and extending beyond-the edge thereof, a

battery ,unit on one side of said case, and

a condenser, induction coil and terminal strip on the other side, a cover on said apparatus case for enclosing saidapparatus and having a compartment formed therein for accommodating said generator, a hand telephone mounted on top of said compartment and extending on either side thereof between tWOt extensions formed on said cover, a cord reel mounted on-top of said compartment adjacent said handset, and means comprising said carrying case and said apparatus case for protecting all of said apparatus from ad-;

verse weather conditions, rough usage and foreign high potential voltages.

6. In a portable telephone set, a carrying j case having a cover, an apparatus case lnside said carrying case and having a cover, telephonic apparatus mounted inside said apparatus case and on the cover thereof, and a plurality of reinforcing members formed integral with said apparatus case and extending around all sides thereof for insulating it and protecting'said telephonic apparatus therein from contact with said carrying case.

7 In a portable telephone set, a carrying case comprising a laminated wooden box reinforced with a layer of sheet, metal on the outside, a cover for said case of the same construction, an apparatus case of cast metal inside said carrying case, a cast metal cover therefor, telephone apparatus mounted inside said apparatus case and on the cover thereof, said cases and the associated covers case, a handle, for said generator extending I through'said apparatus case to the outside of said carrying case, and an annular metal flange on said carrying case around said handle for protecting the same from injury.

llO

9. In a portable telephone set, a reinforced carrying case having a cover thereon, a metal apparatus case removably placed in said carrying case and containing telephone apparatus, a hinged cover therefor, and a plurality of reinforcing members formed integral with said apparatus case and .cover and extending around all sides thereof for strengthening said apparatus case and to 10 provide an air space between both of said cases to prevent accidental foreign currents from affecting said telephone apparatus.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this fourth day of September, A.

WILLARD J. STANTON. In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this fifth day of September, A. D; 1928. go HENRY A. GOSLING. 

